Character Relationship Map: Mortal Kombat

Characters

• Cole Young (played by Lewis Tan) — protagonist

  MMA fighter and descendant of Scorpion, destined to unite champions.

• Sonya Blade (played by Jessica McNamee) — protagonist

  US Special Forces major investigating Mortal Kombat, skilled fighter and strategist.

• Jax (played by Mehcad Brooks) — supporting

  Special Forces sergeant with cybernetic arms, powerhouse fighter.

• Kano (played by Josh Lawson) — supporting

  Ruthless mercenary and crime boss, recurring antagonist.

• Liu Kang (played by Ludi Lin) — supporting

  Earthrealm champion and martial arts master who trains newcomers and fights for victory.

• Kabal (played by Daniel Nelson) — minor

  Former Black Dragon member turned Outworld enforcer.

• Hanzo Hasashi / Scorpion (played by Hiroyuki Sanada) — supporting

  Specter warrior seeking vengeance for his murdered clan.

• Shang Tsung (played by Chin Han) — supporting

  Sorcerer and tournament host, master of soul manipulation.

• Kung Lao (played by Max Huang) — supporting

  Shaolin monk and descendant of the Great Kung Lao.

• Bi-Han / Sub-Zero (played by Joe Taslim) — supporting

  Original Sub-Zero and leader of the Lin Kuei assassins.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Shang Tsung → Bi-Han / Sub-Zero (Power Champion Commander) — Sub-Zero operates within Shang Tsung's offensive campaign.

  Shang Tsung gathers his warriors for the temple attack, and Sub-Zero acts as one of the principal attackers against the Earthrealm champions.

• Shang Tsung → Kabal (Power Enforcer Commander) — Kabal serves as one of Shang Tsung's Outworld combatants.

  Shang Tsung gathers Kabal among his warriors for the assault on the Earthrealm temple.

• Sonya Blade → Jax (Professional Military Partner) — They operate as a Special Forces investigative partnership.

  Jax is introduced as Sonya's partner, and they have been investigating Mortal Kombat together.

• Cole Young → Liu Kang (Professional Trainee) — Liu Kang serves as one of Cole's combat instructors.

  Cole trains with Liu Kang to awaken the arcana associated with dragon-mark bearers.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Shang Tsung → Sonya Blade (Conflict Strategic Enemy) — Sonya's investigation and participation make her part of Shang Tsung's target group.

  Shang Tsung's warriors attack the Earthrealm champions Sonya is helping to assemble and defend.

• Shang Tsung → Kung Lao (Conflict Soul Taker) — Shang Tsung directly defeats Kung Lao through soul manipulation.

  After Kung Lao saves Cole in the Void, Shang Tsung takes Kung Lao's soul.

• Kung Lao → Bi-Han / Sub-Zero (Conflict Combat Rival) — Their confrontation occurs during the champions' escape from the temple assault.

  Kung Lao intervenes against Sub-Zero in the Void while defending Cole from him.

• Liu Kang → Kung Lao (Alliance Teammate) — They form part of the established champion pair at the temple.

  Liu Kang and Kung Lao are introduced together as Earthrealm champions and fight in the same defense of Earthrealm.

• Kano → Kabal (Social Former Ally) — Kabal's prior connection enables Kano's betrayal of Earthrealm.

  Kabal is explicitly described as Kano's former ally and later convinces Kano to defect and sabotage the temple's shield.

• Jax → Bi-Han / Sub-Zero (Conflict Rescue Combatant) — Their early fight leaves Jax severely injured.

  Jax stays behind to battle Sub-Zero after rescuing the Young family, but Sub-Zero defeats him and destroys his arms.

• Sonya Blade → Kabal (Conflict Opposing Enforcer) — Their opposing sides place them in direct conflict during the temple assault.

  Kabal fights on the Outworld side during the attack on the temple, while Sonya defends the Earthrealm group.

• Sonya Blade → Bi-Han / Sub-Zero (Conflict Enemy) — Sonya joins the team opposing Sub-Zero's assault.

  Sub-Zero attacks the Earthrealm champions and later becomes the target of the coordinated effort involving Sonya.

• Cole Young → Shang Tsung (Narrative Heroic Adversary) — Cole represents the champion opposing Shang Tsung's campaign against Earthrealm.

  Shang Tsung sends warriors to eliminate Earthrealm's champions, while Cole helps defend the temple and later stands against Shang Tsung's threat.

• Cole Young → Kung Lao (Alliance Rescued Teammate) — Kung Lao protects Cole during a critical escape.

  Kung Lao saves Cole from Sub-Zero in the Void, allowing Cole to survive the confrontation.

• Cole Young → Kano (Alliance Combat Partner) — Cole temporarily cooperates with Kano despite Kano's unreliable loyalties.

  Cole and Sonya help Kano kill Syzoth, and Cole trains with Kano at the temple.

Story Analysis

A marked fighter unites Earthrealm's champions, confronts a generational enemy, and turns an inherited bloodline into a force for survival.

Plot Progression

1. Bloodline Under Siege — Hanzo's clan is destroyed by Bi-Han, creating a generational feud. Centuries later, Cole becomes the target of an Outworld preemptive attack.
2. Gathering Earthrealm — Cole reaches Sonya and joins a group investigating Mortal Kombat. The survivors travel to the temple and meet established Earthrealm champions.
3. Power Awakening — Training reveals that dragon-mark bearers must unlock personal arcana. Kano succeeds first, while Cole learns about his ancestral connection and struggles to find his own power.
4. Temple Betrayal — Kabal turns Kano against the Earthrealm group, allowing Shang Tsung's forces to attack the temple. Jax awakens his arcana as the defenders struggle to survive.
5. The Void's Sacrifice — Cole awakens his armor and helps the champions escape to the Void. Shang Tsung then takes Kung Lao's soul, forcing Cole to propose a divided counterattack.
6. Scorpion's Vengeance — The champions isolate and defeat several Outworld fighters, but Sub-Zero kidnaps Cole's family. Cole releases Scorpion, who helps him defeat Sub-Zero before Shang Tsung is banished.